A Waikato finalist wins the award
Prospa, in partnership with Neighbourly, has recognised unsung community heroes through its 2023 Local Business Hero Awards.
Prospa said its fourth annual Local Business Hero awards was a resounding success, drawing 897 nominations from all corners of New Zealand, up 40% from last year, as well as more than 1.74 million impressions across Neighbourly and Stuff.
Each business was nominated by people from within their own community and the increased entries demonstrate the local communities’ embracing their local small businesses and the Prospa awards, the non-bank SME lender said.
Adrienne Begbie, Prospa managing director, said all the usual hardships faced by small businesses had become so much tougher in the current economic environment, as they grapple with inflation elevating business costs and rate hikes curbing borrowing that might have otherwise been used to grow their business.
“Given the difficult circumstances, we were touched to hear how so many of these small businesses made a positive impact on their communities,” Begbie said.
Sarah Moore, head of Neighbourly, said they were delighted to work with Prospa to recognise businesses who are doing good in their community.
“It’s been a challenging few years for small businesses, and continues to be – they deserve the recognition for the role they play more than ever,” Moore said.
Waikato finalist Meg Wilson (pictured above left), who runs the Paws Pet Animal Welfare shops in Putāruru, scooped this year’s award, after receiving an outstanding 299 votes (or nearly 20% of all votes).
All three shops Wilson established are run entirely by volunteers and the proceeds used to rescue badly treated cats and dogs. She took home an NZ Local Business Hero winner certificate, $2,500 cash, a Stuff advertising package worth $5,000, and a Neighbourly advertising package worth $2,500.
Other finalists included Cam Vernon, a developer in Auckland, cafe owners Graeme and Julie Dickesen from Maungatapere, and the staff of Ōtaki Medical Centre.
Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about this.
